#1 Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs

#1 Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday 12:30 PST

As I sit here writing, draped in my orange and blue Snuggie, I am struggling with how to approach this mail. Yes, I should be happy that the Gators beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road and remain 7-0 atop the BCS Standings, but I can't help but reflect on yet another very poor showing by the Florida Offense. I still can't get that pick-six interception out of my mind by the Bulldogs in the closing seconds of the first half. Rather than pretty much sealing the deal and going into the locker room at 20-3 or at worst 16-3, Tebow forced a throw and the Bulldog defender snatched the ball and returned it for 100 yards, making the score a very uncomfortable 13-10. It felt like a punch in the stomach and turned my optimistic outlook to despair in a matter of seconds. Not a pleasant feeling at all, but unfortunately one we all are becoming more accustomed to when watching our mistake-prone offense. Sure we can move the ball efficiently from one 20 yard line to the other, but we simply can't get it into the endzone on a consistent or even occasional basis. I really can't comment on the second half since I headed to Qwest Field to watch the Sounders game, but I have read enough to know that there were more shortcomings and bone-headed mishaps on display to cause even the most casual Gator fan to shudder in dismay.

One thing that's really been tough to swallow this week is the incessant ridiculing of the Gators by the sports pundits (I tore my Snuggie in anger as I watched Around the Horn on ESPN). While some of their criticism is overly harsh given that Florida is an undefeated team, some of it's certainly merited. The offensive play-calling and agony-inducing lack of execution by Tebow and Company has truly been awful, particularly for a team ranked #1 in the nation. Especially stunning is the sub-par play of #15, our resident Heisman Trophy Winner. Let's call a spade a spade - Tebow has not played well of late. But it's still hard to hear the Gators getting thrashed in the media when we all know they can and should be so much better. At one point during the savage onslaught of Tebow by the media, I started feeling like Terrell Owens, on the verge of uncontrollable sobbing for the affront to "my quarterback". OK, that's a bit of hyperbole - even I'm not as lame as TO (although my first name is "Terrence" (for real) - but it's still a tad dispiriting.

But somehow we continue to win. Actually, "somehow" is not accurate, as we all know that our Defense has been the key to our success. As troublingly ineffective as our offense is, our D continues to dominate and hold teams in check who likely would have beaten us otherwise. And we should be at full strength again this week, returning four starters, when Florida travels to Jacksonville to face our historic arch-rival, the Georgia Bulldogs (back-to-back games against Bulldogs, that must mean something I guess?). If I were a Georgia offensive player right now, I would be very nervous knowing that I will be facing a fully-staffed and likely quite angry Gator defensive squad this Saturday.

Come on out this Saturday and watch the Gators face the Bulldogs of Athens this weekend. One can only hope that this is the weekend where the Offense finally clicks and begins to show their true potential. Otherwise, win or lose, the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" could turn into the "Angst-Ridden, Binge-Drinking Fest" (hey, that's kinda catchy!).

Go Gators,
Courtney